Civil Defence Services

In recent years the emphasis has moved to community support and Limerick Civil Defence Members are well and truly embedded in the local community delivering training in First Aid, Rescue, Fire Pump Drills, Welfare, Communications, Kayaking, Abseiling and completing courses in Power Boating, Driving and GPS Navigation. A number of members have also completed Advanced Rope Rescue training in Wales.

Since 2006 Limerick Civil Defence has been preparing to fulfil its role to support the principal response agencies as part of the Major Emergency Management Framework.

Limerick Civil Defence continues to support various local, national and international activities including:

Land and water searches for missing persons

Lough Gur Summer Festival

Cappamore Show

Chernobyl Children’s Project

Annual Limerick Diocesan Pilgrimage

Irish Open Golf in Adare

Milford Harvest Fair

During the cold winter of 2009/2010, members were very much involved in assisting Milford Hospice palliative care staff and the HSE by transporting health care personnel to patients in isolated areas.

There is also a competitive training element to Civil Defence and in recent years Limerick Civil Defence volunteers performed to the highest standard in both the Regional and National Exercises in various locations throughout the country including Bandon, Glengarriff, Tralee, Roscommon, Arklow, Clane and Nenagh.

In recent times, Limerick Civil Defence has participated in exercises with other agencies which have included simulated air crash exercises in Shannon Airport and anti-pollution exercises in Foynes where members got the opportunity to work as part of a team with these other organisations.

The main services originally carried out by the Civil Defence organisation were Casualty, Rescue, Warden, Auxiliary Fire and Welfare services. In recent years two new services were added, Boating and Kayaking. All these services provide the basis for Civil Defence training which takes place mostly during the period September to May annually.

National History of Civil Defence

Civil Defence is a nationwide voluntary based organisation which consists of highly skilled and professionally trained personnel who give their time freely to serve their communities. It is open to persons between the ages of 16 and 65.

Civil Defence was set up in the 1950s as part of a National Defence response to potential hazards which may arise during a war time situation, such as radioactive fallout, biological or chemical warfare.

Limerick Civil Defence has been strong since the early 1950s when training was conducted in the Warden, Welfare, Casualty and Rescue services at various centres throughout the county.

Instructors were trained at the National Civil Defence School who in turn recruited and trained new members locally.

With the end of the Cold War at the end of the 1980s the emphasis for Civil Defence changed to one of community support and emergency response. In addition to this, Civil Defence members prepare and undertake extensive training to be in a position to provide appropriate response as a back-up service to the Local Emergency Services in the event of an emergency situation occurring.

The real strength of the Civil Defence organisation is the fact that the members give of their time, expertise and experience in a voluntary manner.